The Assessment of Sexual Functions in Women with Male Partners Complaining of Erectile Dysfunction: Does Treatment of Male Sexual Dysfunction Improve Female Partner's Sexual Functions?

Abstract

The aims of this prospective study were to compare sexual functioning between women with male partners who have erectile dysfunction (ED) and women without partners with ED and also to investigate the effect of the treatment of male ED on female partner's sexual function. The study included 87 women and their male partners. We divided the women into two groups: 38 women with male partners complaining of ED (ED group) and 49 women with male partners who have no ED (control group). Of the men with ED, 30 were treated with penile prosthesis implantation (n = 17) or oral sildenafil citrate (n = 13). We evaluated all the men with the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF; Rosen, Cappelleri, Smith, Lipsky, & Pena, 1999), physical examination, and color penile Doppler ultrasound. We evaluated female sexual function with the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI; Rosen et al., 2000) to assess sexual desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. We compared female sexual function scores between the women of the male partners with and without ED and also compared before both groups and after the treatment of male partners in the ED group. Additionally, we compare the scores according to the type of treatment given to the male partners. Sexual arousal (p = 0.009), lubrication (p = 0.001), orgasm (p = 0.006), satisfaction (p = 0.000), pain (p = 0.039), and total score (p = 0.003) were highly significantly lower in the ED group than in the control group, although sexual desire did not differ between the two groups (p = 0.515). We investigated the effect of male ED on female sexual functions and found no statistically significant differences in the presence of organic type impotence, older age, and lower erection scores on the IIEF (p = 0.53, p = 0.15, and p = 0.1, respectively). After the treatment of male ED, we observed significant improvement in sexual arousal (p = 0.001), lubrication (p = 0.002), orgasm (p = 0.000), satisfaction (p = 0.000), and pain (p = 0.002) in the women. These findings suggest that female sexual function is affected by male erection status and may improve after the treatment of male sexual dysfunction.

Sexual dysfunction in partners of men with premature ejaculation

“…Indeed, a study assessing the impact of successful treatment of PE on the partners sexual dysfunction would be very interesting, and hopefully as successful as seen in treating women's sexual dysfunction when treating the man for his ED. 14,[16][17][18][19][20] The results of the PEP-SI, SQOL and SRS indicate that the partners of men with PE have higher rates of negative emotional impact and dissatisfaction with sex. In addition, the female partners of men with PE demonstrate a lower perception of sexual quality of life and a poorer sexual relationship with their partners than the control group.…”

“…14 An investigation to assess the prevalence of FSD in female partners of men with ED attending a sexual dysfunction clinic found that 55% of the 113 women assessed reported some level of sexual dysfunction, with 35% reporting more than one sexual dysfunction. 15 The mostly commonly reported problems were difficulties with orgasm, and reduced sexual desire.…”

“…Of course, these figures only represent the women and partners who agreed to take part in the study and there is no indication of the timing of the onset of the men's or women's sexual dysfunction and, therefore, no clarity as to which preceded or accompanied which. However, lending support to the theory that a woman's sexual difficulties can be contingent on her partners are a number of studies showing that the sexual functioning of women with partners who have ED improved significantly when the man's ED was treated with a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5i) 16 and, specifically, with sildenafil 14,17,18 or vardenafil. 19 Althof et al 20 reported improvements in women's sexual function when her partner's ED was treated with selfinjection or vacuum therapy, and Cayan et al 14 reported the same with ED treatment of penile prosthesis implantation.…”

Quality of life issues in men undergoing androgen deprivation therapy: a review

“…43,44 Studies in men with ED from other aetiologies have shown that psychological distress increases with severity of ED 45 and those men who respond to ED treatment report clinically significant improvements in QoL as do their partners. 46 A simple return of morning erections in hypogonadal men treated with testosteronere placement therapy has shown significant improvements in self-confidence. 47 Low serum testosterone levels also have a direct effect on penile function by causing venous leak in PCa patients [48][49][50][51] and, men treated with radical prostatectomy without concomitant ADT report substantial changes in self-confidence, secondary to iatrogenic ED.…”

Motivations for seeking treatment for ED: the woman's perspective

“…However, there is evidence that treatment of male ED has a positive effect on FSD. 18,[20][21][22] The use of a range of PDE5i medications has been shown to be associated with improvements in the female partner's sexual function/satisfaction, as well as relationship functioning.Cayan et al 18 reported that all aspects of sexual functioning (except sexual desire) among 38 females whose partners experienced ED were lower than for 49 partners of men who did not experience ED. Further, after the treatment of ED, these females showed significant improvements in their sexual functioning.…”